For the second straight game a bad start was too much to overcome for the 19th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, Sunday afternoon. Illinois raced out to a 29-11 lead at the outset and 16th ranked Illini held off a late rally for a 75-69 victory in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes got to within four in the waning minutes.

That’s Iowa coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes crawled back into the game several times in the second half but never led, in falling to 2-3 in the Big Ten.

Battling illness, Tavion Banks did not start the game but came off the bench to lead Iowa with 16 points. Freshman forward Tate Sage was also a bright spot off the bench. He finished with 13 points.

Sage was four-of-six from the field and also had three offensive rebounds.

Sage says the start to the game was costly.